Islanders-Rangers tonight (?)

… Though we wonder if the weather might cause a change in plans since roads are still a mess, businesses and events are closed and postponed, and even the Metro North Railroad service is suspended and suggesting that people stay home, if possible, today.

If not, Marian Gaborik is expected to return to the lineup, and Mats Zuccarello is expected to play, and Michael Del Zotto is expected to be prucha’d. We’ll see.

Here are the pre-game notes, from the Rangers (these notes do not include the Islanders’ win over Montreal last night, which leaves the Isles 4-0-1 in five, and a much better team than the one with which the Rangers struggled the first three times):

TONIGHT’S GAME:
The Rangers will face-off against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m.). The Blueshirts currently rank third in the Atlantic Division standings, and seventh in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 20-14-2 (42 pts). The Rangers enter the contest having been defeated by the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-3, in the shootout on Thursday at Madison Square Garden, and are now 13-7-1 in their last 21 games. New York has earned a point in seven of their last 10 games at MSG (6-3-1). The Islanders enter the contest with a 8-18-6 (22 pts) record to rank 14th in the Eastern Conference, and have earned a point in each of their last four games (3-0-1). Following the contest, the Rangers will begin a three-game road trip when they face-off against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday, Dec. 29, at Prudential Center (7:00 p.m.).

RANGERS vs. ISLANDERS:
* All-Time: 110-97-19-5 overall (63-37-11-4 at home, 47-60-8-1 on the road)
* 2010-11: Tonight’s contest marks the fourth of six meetings this season, and the second at MSG. New York is 2-1-0 thus far, including a 1-0-0 mark at home following a 2-0 win at MSG on Dec. 3.
* Last Season: The Rangers were 3-2-1 overall and 1-1-1 at MSG. The Rangers’ power play converted at a 22.7% (5-22) success rate in the season series.
* The Blueshirts have notched four goals in 11 power play opportunities (36.4%) in three games vs. the Islanders this season
* The Rangers rank 22nd with a 8-8-2 (18 pts) record at home; the Islanders rank 29th with a 3-11-3 (9 pts) mark on the road
* The Rangers are 6-4-0 vs. the Atlantic Division; the Islanders are 3-5-1 against the Atlantic Division
* Henrik Lundqvist is 19-9-5 with a 2.11 goals against average and three shutouts in 34 career games vs. the Islanders; Martin Biron is 20-4-1-0 with a 2.00 goals against average and two shutouts in 26 career contests vs. the Islanders
* Chris Drury leads the Rangers with 15 goals, 23 assists and 38 points in 40 career regular season contests vs. the Islanders
* Marian Gaborik (three goals, two assists) and Brandon Dubinsky (one goal, four assists) are tied for the team lead with five points vs. the Islanders in the season series; Gaborik’s three goals and Dubinsky’s four assists are both team-highs
* The Rangers list two former Islanders on their roster: Martin Biron (2009-10); Ruslan Fedotenko (2007-08)
* The Islanders list three former Rangers on their roster: Mike Mottau (2000-01 – 2001-02); P.A. Parenteau (2009-10); Doug Weight (1991-92 – 1992-93)

SPECIAL TEAMS:
The Blueshirts have posted a plus-five rating on special teams (PPG+SHG minus PPGA+SHGA) this season, which is tied for 10th in the league.
* Power Play: The Rangers did not tally a goal in one power play opportunity (2:00) on Thursday vs. Tampa Bay, and have now registered a goal on the man advantage in seven of the last 10 games (7-36, 19.4% over the span). New York ranks 20th overall (22-131, 16.8%) and is tied for 26th at home (10-69, 14.5%). The Rangers are 1-5 (5:01) in five-on-three situations (last – 11/24 at TBL), and 0-2 (2:23) when four-on-three (last – 12/3 vs. NYI). Shorthanded goals allowed (2): 11/20 at MIN (Cullen); 12/5 vs. OTT (Kelly).
* Penalty Killing: The Blueshirts held the Lightning scoreless in one shorthanded situation (2:00) on Thursday at MSG, and are now 62-72 (86.1%) over the last 24 games. New York is tied for 14th overall (102-125, 81.6%) and ranks 20th at home (45-55, 81.8%). The Rangers are 4-6 (5:08) in three-on-five situations (last – 10/30 at TOR), and 4-6 (2:41) when three-on-four (last – 11/15 at PIT). Shorthanded goals for (8): 10/9 at BUF (Dubinsky); 11/5 at NJD (Dubinsky); 11/15 at PIT (Staal); 11/24 at TBL (Boyle); 11/26 at FLA (Prust); 12/5 vs. OTT (Prust); 12/12 vs. WSH (Staal); 12/16 vs. PHX (Prust).
* Four-on-Four: New York did not tally/yield a goal in one, four-on-four situation (5:00) on Thursday vs. Tampa Bay, and are now plus-three in 28, four-on-four situations (51:15). Four-on-four goals for (4): 10/18 vs. COL (Frolov); 11/11 vs. BUF (Anisimov); 11/15 at PIT (Callahan); 12/12 vs. WSH (Callahan). Four-on-four goals allowed (1): 10/15 vs. TOR (Kessel).

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
Compared to last season, the Blueshirts have shown a three wins, five points improvement, having tallied nine more goals (including a five-goal improvement while shorthanded) while allowing seven fewer goals against through 36 games.

BACK-TO-BACKS
The Rangers completed their ninth of 18 back-to-back sets with a 4-3 shootout win vs. Phoenix on Dec. 16. The Blueshirts improved to 9-0-0 (4-0-0 at home, 5-0-0 on the road) in the second game of back-to-backs this season, having out-scored their opponent, 31-9, in those games. Over the last two seasons, New York is 18-2-2 in the back-end of back-to-back sets, including a 8-1-1 mark at MSG and 10-1-1 on the road over the span.

STARTING STRONG
The Blueshirts have started games off strong this season, tallying the first goal of the game in 21 of their 36 games and posting a record of 15-5-1 in those contests. The Rangers own a record of 10-1-1 when leading after the first period, having out-scored their opponent, 25-19, in the opening frame.

TEAM EFFORT
The Rangers have had 12 different players credited with at least one game winning goal this season which is tied for second in the NHL, trailing Washington by one and tied with Atlanta.

LITTLE THINGS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE
The Rangers currently lead the NHL with 1,038 hits and rank second with 586 blocked shots. Ryan Callahan ranked second in the league with 128 hits and led all NHL forwards with 40 blocked shots prior to his injury on Dec. 15, while Dan Girardi currently leads the league with 104 blocked shots and Brian Boyle ranks 12th in the NHL with 102 hits.

THE HOT LIST:
* The Rangers lead the league in shorthanded goals (eight), are tied for fifth in wins (20), 10th in points (42), rank 10th in goals (108), and are tied for seventh with a plus-13 goal differential
* Henrik Lundqvist is 7-4-1 with a 1.88 goals against average, a .931 save percentage and three shutouts in his last 12 games
* Derek Stepan enters the game with a three-game goal streak (three goals), and has registered 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in the last 20
* Alex Frolov has tallied five points (two goals, three assists) in the last five games
* Marc Staal has tallied 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in the last 14 games, including five points (two goals, three assists) in the last six
* Dan Girardi has recorded five points (one goal, four assists) in the last five games
* Artem Anisimov has recorded four points (two goals, two assists) in the last five games
* Brandon Dubinsky has registered eight points (two goals, six assists) in the last 10 games
* Brian Boyle has recorded seven points (two goals, five assists) in the last nine games

WORLD JUNIOR ROSTERS SET
Rangers’ prospects Chris Kreider and Ryan Bourque will represent Team USA at the 2011 World Junior Championship in Buffalo, New York. This will be their second trip to the elite tournament, having both represented the gold medal-winning Team USA at the 2010 World Junior Championship. Roman Horak (Czech Republic) and Jesper Fasth (Sweden) will also represent their native country in the tournament. This will be Horak’s second appearance at the World Junior Championship, having represented the Czech Republic in last year’s tournament, while Fasth will be making his first appearance in the tournament.

Yeah I thought of that ilb, but other teams that have been on the brink seem to make it through somehow. I think the league would go to any length to make sure NJ endures. Unless Lou declares all out war.

So, for Christmas, my girlfriend got me a puck display case (holds 30 pucks) with the Rangers logo on it and an Adam Graves autographed puck. I’m looking to purchase/obtain signed pucks by every player from the 93-94 Stanley Cup team. If anyone has any that they’d be willing to sell, please email me. wag279@gmail.com

I was fortunate to find 11 pucks in an ebay auction (all certified PSA/DNA), but there are still 9 that I’m looking for (Nemchinov, Lowe, Wells, Karpovtsev, Anderson, Noonan, Kovalev, & Gilbert). I have the most expensive players, but these ones I feel will be harder to find. Hopefully these guys will be at some alumni events.

Thanks to anyone who can help. And by the way, what a great gift, right? Let’s go Rangers!

Anyone know how we can go about petitioning/emailing the team/league to get them to delay the game? There’s no way im gonna be able to make it tonight as all the LIRR is shut down and my whole street wasn’t plowed.

Anyone else besides my wife and I going to be at the game tonight? I figure since not only did I have to go into work, but go in an hour early, there have to be others who will brave the game tonight. Hell, if 3000 people went to see the islanders last night, I figure msg has to draw at least 10k tonight.

The obvious joke is that it should blizzard everyday so that the islanders can keep up the improvement in their attendance numbers

When i was in Vegas in June at the NHL awards show the temp was like 105 and humidity was around 5%. I was so comfortable when compared to the 85 degree and perpetual 90% humidity of Long Island. I’d take dry heat over humidity any day.

this is good. arsenal have a 1-nil lead at halftime, as i expected. if chelsea took the 1-0 lead, the game was over. arsenal should choke the 1-0 lead away in the 2nd half, and im just hoping chelsea dont score 2 to win.

I just got tickets for tonight’s game.
I told the person that got me the tix that I was a big Ranger fan from way back.

Truth is, I used to follow pretty closely when Orland Kurtenbach was the enforcer and Vic Hadfield had the hardest shot in the league. Reg Fleming once dumped snow down the back of my shirt in a youth clinic…then I kind of lost interest.

I followed again in the days when young Gresh was taggin a supermodel and #28 Sandstrom was a force.

I got caught up in the whole Gretz/Messier years, but haven’t really followed much lately.

I’m hoping you guys can give me some info to make me sound like I know what I’m talking about…I can look up the points leaders and goalies, I need to know other stuff
like:
– who is the defenseman that you all hate these days (there’s always one, isn’t there?)
– who is the underappreciated youngster?
– who is the veteran who has lost a step but won’t admit it?
– who are the best forecheckers?
– who are the best shot-blockers?
– any scandals?…fetish-videos?…high profile girlfriends?

My girlfriend doesn’t want to travel in the snow, so I have an extra ticket to tonight’s game. Section 116. Asking $80 (that’s what I paid for it as part of a package, so it’s a great deal). Any takers? Give your email address and we’ll arrange to meet at the Garden.

Surprised that they are going to play this game tonight, why not wait until tomorrow (if the Garden’s available)?

JN – Answers in order (as I see it):
1. Rozsival (with Redden in Hartford of course)
2. Gilroy (in his 2nd year, but not so young), and we would have liked to see Zuccarello sooner.
3. probably Drury, in terms of scoring at least
4. Callahan, Boyle, Dubinsky, Prust
5. Callahan, Drury, Staal, Girardi
6. We have talked about Dubinsky’s hot gf and Stepan’s hot mom.

The Rangers are going to face a tough team tonight. The Rangers always have a rough time with the fishes, but this has is not the same team they last faced. The Isles have been good the last five or six games beating some stiff competition. The Ranger have not been bad during that time either. It should be a good game. This team is fun to watch they are always moving their feet. MZA will be back, he got caught standing around the last game he played, but he still had a good game over all.

If you were arrested for paying for sex, you’re whole office would know within two days max, trust me. and, right or wrong, and sadly, that comes with being in a public job like a sport. hey, my heart’s with the guy…

and ORR, really, for all the Redden comments you make here??? just saying…..think about it

I don’t think Rosi has a no move clause like Drury. He can be sent to Hartford.

New York fans can be observed through the lens of NHL Center Ice. It’s amazing how sophisticated Ranger fans are…

a player back checks and hustles, and without scoring, gets cheered by the fans. This is not universal throughout the league.

a player dogs it on the ice and the fans in NY let him hear it. It has to be a tough place to play but superstars seem to love it.

Some announcers are terribly regional; Boston to the point of juvenile; they say silly things like “righteous pass!” in attempts to make it on Sportscenter. They don’t study the opposing team at all.

Some Canadian teams have really sharp announcers who know the game, and know the other teams well, and are clearly fans of the game, rather than just a team (see Boston, Philly, Washington).

The juvenile, “look at the Great Eight!” or the unending “that play was Crosby-like!” (when Crosby is not playing in the game!) wears thin pretty easily.

I think Rosi has a tough time playing at the Garden. The fans see the blocked shots, and the play of someone like Prust, and really get angry when Rosival, upon being hit, coughs up the puck in order to avoid the hit.

The fans are sophisticated and knowledgable. Its easier for Rosi to play on the road.

Seamus- ask LW3H about other teams announcers. Last time he heard Sam and JM was 1972.
I think the best announcers must be Montreal guys in French. I have no clue what they are saying, but they sound very convincing on Center Ice.

The way I see it Rozie’s not going anywhere this year. Torts has to like him, after a give away like that last game and he didn’t even miss a shift. At least I didn’t notice him sitting. I’m sure Torts was pissed, but I don’t think he benched him. Really Rozie should know that a pass up the middle like that is not worth the risk. He gets a little puckeyed and has brain farts. Girardy gave one up also, but St Louis made a good play on him.